Sheet material and method of making the same



Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFl-ucr.

JOSEPH O. EDGAR, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD H.

WARDWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHEET MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME No Drawing.

' This invention relates to ornamental sheet material and methods of making the same.

More specifically the invention comprises a sheet material having a metallic hue that may be used for decorative purposes, such as interior walls, decorative domes in theatres, auditoriums, office buildings and the like, and can be used in the manufacture of lamp shades, fancy containers or receptacles of any sort, such as jewelry boxes or candy boxes, and in fact in any place where a surface having a silver, vgolden or copper color is desired.

The sheet material is manufactured from sea-shells, and particularly from the shells of a mollusk inhabiting the Waters of the Philippine Islands and known locally as the kapiz. The kapiz is a mollusk of the bivalve family and has one shellthat is flat. also comparatively thin and these two properties permits its use in sheet form. Heretofore it has been cleaned and used in its natural color in the manufacture of lamp shades and similar products. I have found that heating the shell or the sheets of material formed from the shell causes a physical or chemical change in the shell. The shell softens when heated and changes in color to various metallic tints depending upon the temperature employed and-the length of time which the shell is submitted to the heat treatment. The procluct thus produced is very useful for decorative purposes and can be employed in a variety of ways to produce an imitation metallic surface.

In carrying out the process of my invention, the shells may be heated over an open flame, care being taken to prevent actual burning of the shell. It is, of course, not essential that the heating step be performed in this manner as the shells could be heated in various types of retorts. After the shell has been heated, it is dipped in a suitable binder and then stamped or cut to the desired size and shape.

In a specific embodiment of the invention the mollusks obtained in the usual manner are opened and the shells are then cleaned in any suitable manner. This cleaning operation can be performed byhand by scraping the The shell is Application filed December 18, 1929. Serial No. 415,126.

"shell, or it maybe performed by a sand blast process I have performed this heating operajtion over an open flame with the shells held far enough away from the flame to prevent actual burning. Thetime of heating and degree of heat may vary,'but I have found that when heated over an open gas flame for about five minutes, the shell gradually changes color until it assumes first a silver, and thena golden tint, and produces a product that may be used in place of ornamental metal surfaces. By carrying the heating step further a product having'a dark copper hue may be obtained.

This heating operation renders the shell rather brittle and its usefulness may be enhanced by dipping it in a suitable binder. Any suitable binder maybe employed and binders which may be used include glue, a

sodium silicate solution, clear shellac and the like. The step of dipping the treated shell in the binder increases its cohesiveness and it is then ready for use. Before the shells are dipped in the binder, or after clipping the shells in the binder, they may be pressed to flatten them, and remove irregularities from the surface. with any suitable apparatus. I preferably out or stamp the shells into rectangles or other shapes in which a number of the shells may be assembled to produce a surface of a This step may be performed desired area. If the product is to be used in the manufacture of ornamental surfaces for fancy containers, it may be mounted on the surfaces of the container in any suitable manner as by means of an adhesive. In the I use of the product in the manufacture of interior walls, decorative ceilings and the like, it is preferably formed into sheets of substantial size by securing the rectangles or other forms to a suitable backing. I preferably form rectangles, and these rectangles are then mounted on aboard, a thin sheet of metal, a paper sheet or cloth by means of a suitable adhesive to form sheets of substantial area which may be applied to Walls or domes in any suitable manner to obtain a desired decorative effect. The sheets, for instance, may be used in the decoration of a ceiling as substitute for sheet gold and Will produce a similar, but more brilliant effect than the sheet gold at much less expense.

The shells may also be meeting inlays in furniture, lamp bases, and other products Where a decorative eflect is desired.

I claim:

1. The herein described product comprising a heat treated mollusk shell having a metallic hue. p F 2. A product adapted for use in ornamentation comprising, asheet of material formed of. mollusk shell and having a metallic 3. The herein described product comprising a backing sheet, and "apliirality ofhe'at treated mollusk shells secured to said backingsheet, said sea-shells having a metallic .hue'and producing an imitationmetal sheet. 4. The process of making imitationsheet metal which comprises heating a mollusk shell until it assnmesametallic hue; i 5. The process of making imitation sheet metal ivhich comprises heating a mollusk shell until it assuin'es'a metallic hueandth'e'n "dipping theshell in a binder,

6. The process of making imitation sheet gold which comprises heating a mollusk shell untilit assumes a goldenhu'e. I i a 7. The process of making imitation sheet metal for decorative purposes Which camp'ris'es heating mollusk shells until theylassunae a metallic hue, and then mounting said -shells 'on a backing strip. 8. The process of making lmitation sheet f'metal for decorative purposes whlch comprises heating mollusk shells until they assume a metallic hue, dipping the shells in a time, and then cutting them in re ular shlapes.

inetal i'Or decorative 'p'urpos'e's which coinprises heating mollusk shells until they assume a metallic hue, dipping the shells in a binder, cutting the shells in regular shapes iandthen mounting them on a backing sheet. 10. The process ofmaking imitation sheet metal which comprisesheating a mollusk V shell until lt'assuines a metalhc'hue, and

then 'p resslng the shell.

I 11 A product adapted :for ornamentation comprising a k a'piz shell having a metallic hue . 12. The method of making imitation sheet inetal ivl'iich comprises heating a kapiz shell. p In testimony *LvheieofI aflix my signature.

JOSEPH o. EDGAR.

9..,Tl ie process of making imitation sheet 

